Implementation Begins

Before school started the entire teaching staff participated in a full day Model Classroom training. After the school wide training on August 13^th on the beginning stages of implementing the Model Classroom Project, teachers were able to meet and plan with their perspective grade levels and subject areas to collaboratively come up with a plan for implementing. Most primary teachers/grade levels choose implement in staged while the upper grade levels chose to start it all at once full force from the beginning. Since there was some discussion and usage towards the end of last school year, teachers were more comfortable with using the program and also more receptive when using it from the start of school instead of beginning to use the program in the middle of the school year. Just last week John Samara was able to visit the school for an entire day. He was able to observe several classrooms in different grade levels and offer feedback on implementation of the Model Classroom Project. He was able to talk specifically about what he saw in classrooms at the various grade levels, what strategies and tools he saw teachers using, student response to the strategies and tools, what things needed tweaking and also some next steps to consider. Our next John Samara Visit is not until November. This will give teachers plenty of time to continue with current practices while using the suggestions offered. Teachers will be able to observe each other while also receiving feedback from administration from their walk throughs.

A Reflection...

Throughout the course there have been many things that I have gained further insight on and a deeper understanding of. I think the most pertinent idea is that of action research. Through the readings of course textbooks and class resources I have gained a clear understanding of what action research is and the steps that must be taken in order for it to be done correctly and thoroughly.  I think one of the more significant steps is determining the question to be answered or the statement to be analyzed. I like action research because it allows you to fit the process to your needs. You are able to explore and investigate topics that are going to be beneficial specifically to the population you are using. I must admit in the beginning I was a bit apprehensive about the blog. I wasn’t sure that it would be as beneficial as some other means of communication and sharing. However, I have found that the blog is one of the highlights of my week. I looked forward to the comments and suggestions that others have offered about my inquiry project. Some of the questions that others asked I hadn’t even thought about. It was good to get feedback and suggestions from people in different environments, who teach different subjects and grades. Their experiences and knowledge brought about different perspectives to the topic I chose.  I also enjoyed reading all of the other blogs and going over all of the various ideas and topics that everyone came up with. It was interesting to see the types of scenarios and situations that people are dealing with on their campuses based on their action research topics. There are many other students that were dealing with the same subject matter just in different ways. To me it showed just how common the issues we deal with in our different schools and in various districts are so similar and common. Our individual action research projects will not only benefit our schools and students but they just might help others. Each assignment has allowed me to look at the process of action research from the mind frame of a leader. In reading the course textbooks I understand the importance of leaders making time for action research and the impact it can have on the staff and students. This course has allowed me to expand on my skills. I now have planning an action research project under my belt.  I’m excited to get started on implementing the project and analyzing the end results.

Waiting on August 13th...

I decided not to post my Action Research Plan again because it doesn't have any changes or revisions-yet. Eagerly waiting on August 13th to have the training on the Model Classroom Project. We were given a few pieces before the end of school but this year we are jumping in full on. On the 13th we will receive much more information so I will be able to see the big picture with all its pieces. Once I have a better understanding of the Model Classroom Project I will be able to adjust and change my research plan as needed.

In the Beginning...

Ok, here is what I have so far. I say so far because this plan was created with minimal information available to me. The MCP is new to our school and we will just begin its implementation this coming school year. There is a school wide in-service scheduled for August 13th with Mr. John Samara himself. I am rather confident that after the training and the program is presented more in-depth and materials are given, I will be able to make additions and changes to my ARP. Also, since I am on the MCP committee I will meet regularly through-out the school with Mr. Samara and a cadre of teachers to discuss/review implementation of the program which can and probably will effect the steps in my plan. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and suggestions. :)

Action Planning Template
Goal:  In what ways does implementing The Curriculum Project (or Model Classroom Project) help increase student achievement? What are the benefits/concerns teachers have during its implementation?   Objectives/Outcomes: 1.    Determine/increase effectiveness of strategies and tools 2.    Determine what works and what doesn’t work 3.   Increase and assess student achievement with the programs implementation
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Teacher In-service day to kick of the program. John Samara will facilitate, give more detailed information about program and implementation.	Administration Team, John Samara, Teachers	August 13, 2013	Materials will be provided by the in-service facilitator, administration team.	Tools, information and strategies for the beginning of school
Monitor teacher implementation of MCP; Survey teachers about beginning school year with MCP; select small group of students to be tracked/monitored this school year	Andrea Liner	The beginning of the school year to September 26, 2013.	Teacher feedback	Are teachers using the program/evidence? What are they seeing while beginning to implement the program? Questions/concerns?
Meet with program facilitator, John Samara	Andrea Liner, cadre of MCP teachers from each grade level	September 26	Feedback from teachers on implementing the program, observation of classrooms, student data	Student response to the program, benefits/concerns, next steps for implementation
Monitor next steps of implementation; survey teachers on benefits/concerns; Analyze beginning of year testing data for small group of students	Andrea Liner	September 27-November 14	Teacher feedback	Are teachers using the program/evidence? What are they seeing while implementing the program? How is it all coming together? Questions/concerns?
Meet with program facilitator, John Samara	Andrea Liner, cadre of MCP teachers from each grade level	November 15	Feedback from teachers on implementing the program, observation of classrooms, student data	Student response to the program, benefits/concerns, next steps for implementation
Monitor next steps of implementation of MCP; continue to survey and dialogue with teachers on benefits of program and any concerns	Andrea Liner	November 26- January 30	Teacher feedback	Are teachers using the program/evidence? What are they seeing while implementing the program? Questions/concerns?
Meet with program facilitator, John Samara	Andrea Liner, cadre of MCP teachers from each grade level	January 31	Feedback from teachers on implementing the program, observation of classrooms, student data	Student response to the program, benefits/concerns, next steps for implementation; review mid-year assessment data, student growth; next steps for using the MCP
Monitor next steps of implementation of MCP; continue to survey and dialogue with teachers on benefits of program and any concerns	Andrea Liner	February 1-March 9	Teacher feedback	Are teachers using the program/evidence? What are they seeing while implementing the program? Questions/concerns?
Meet with program facilitator, John Samara	Andrea Liner, cadre of MCP teachers from each grade level	March 10	Feedback from teachers on implementing the program, observation of classrooms, student data	Student response to the program, benefits/concerns, next steps for implementation; student growth; next steps for using the MCP
Monitor next steps of implementation of MCP; continue to survey and dialogue with teachers on benefits of program and any concerns	Andrea Liner	March 11- May 14	Teacher feedback	Are teachers using the program/evidence? What are they seeing while implementing the program? Questions/concerns?
Meet with program facilitator, John Samara	Andrea Liner, cadre of MCP teachers from each grade level	May 15	Teacher feedback; EOY student performance(grades, benchmarks, STAAR)	Discuss the year of using the MCP, overall results of using the program; what worked/what didn’t work

The Final Decision....

I finally got to meet with my site supervisor to discuss more in detail my internship plan and discuss my topic for my action research project. I am so thankful that I have a supervisor that generally wants to help and has given me the open door to work on and create as I go through this grad school program. The one, and only, idea I was able to come up with she loved and thought I would be able to get lots of good information during my research. Our school is implementing The Curriculum Project. This past school year we implemented a few components of the program and this current year we are really going to get into the program full on. The Curriculum Project will require a lot of changes for some in classroom structure, classroom management and instructional changes. There are two areas of interest that I would like to research and monitor during this implementation. I will research/monitor teacher implementation of the curriculum project and what concerns/benefits they have seen as the program is implemented. I also want to monitor a small group of students and track their academic growth/achievement while The Curriculum Project is being implemented to see if there are any positive results from the strategies and instructional changes. As soon as we discussed the idea I was "selected" to be on a committee that will meet periodically throughout the school year to meet with the project administration to discuss and assess its usage. LOL. I should be able to complete lots of those internship plan activities working on this project. :)